The Convenient Bride Collection: 9 Romances Grow from Marriage Partnerships Formed Out of Necessity by Erica Vetsch Amanda Barratt Andrea Boeshaar Mona Hodgson Melissa Jagears Maureen Lang Gabrielle Meyer Jennifer Uhlarik Renee Yancy

Author:Erica Vetsch, Amanda Barratt, Andrea Boeshaar, Mona Hodgson, Melissa Jagears, Maureen Lang, Gabrielle Meyer, Jennifer Uhlarik, Renee Yancy [Vetsch, Erica; Barratt, Amanda; Boeshaar, Andrea; Hodgson, Mona; Jagears, Melissa; Lang, Maureen; Meyer, Gabrielle; Uhlarik, Jennifer; Yancy, Renee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781634095334
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2015-10-10T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Nearly overcome with confusion, Virginia almost fell back to her seat. Sheer will not to be seen as any weaker than she’d already displayed earlier kept her standing. She had no idea what sort of proposal John was prepared to make, but she knew one thing: she would not see this marriage ended. Even if it hadn’t nor ever would be consummated, the dissolution of marriage must be just as great a sin as starting one for the wrong purpose. She would have no part of that.

John rounded his desk to stand in front of both of them. “What I’m thinking is so obvious I cannot believe God impressed this upon only me. Even Sarah agrees, wholeheartedly. Don’t either of you see what must happen?”

Virginia looked at Paul to see if he was more enlightened than she, but he appeared every bit as confused as she felt.

“Virginia, you must go to the farm with Paul. You’re his wife, you no longer have a home here in the city, and you owe it to the sacrament of marriage to see this as an opportunity to at least investigate the possibility of honoring the vows you both took.”

“We are honoring them!” Paul said, taking the words right out of Virginia’s mouth. “At least in the sense of support. And have you forgotten that once her home is rebuilt here she will want to return to the life she was happy with?”

“Yes, John,” Virginia added. “I agree the terms of this union are unusual, but as your brother has already said, he hasn’t been inconvenienced. I don’t see anything but inconvenience for him were I to invade his life as you suggest.”

John’s face went rigid. “I must insist on this, I’m afraid. In fact, tonight’s dinner reminded me of how many people’s lives have been inconvenienced by this fire. Inconvenience is common. I’m already working on finding other employment, at least temporary, for the girls we took in. Soon enough they’ll be out of here, too, living lives of their choosing. They don’t want to be boarders any more than I want my house over-occupied, especially now that we have Elijah to consider.”

Virginia wrung her hands. Perhaps Paul hadn’t found their marriage an inconvenience—yet—but John, and perhaps Sarah as well, did find so many houseguests an inconvenience. “I thought … I could be of some help with the baby,” she whispered.

“Virginia,” John said softly, “I’m sure I bungled how I’ve said all of this, because we do consider you family. It’s just that both Sarah and I have wondered if this fire didn’t provide an opportunity for you and Paul to see if this marriage was ordained by God not just for financial security but something more.”

She turned away, refusing to fight another battle with tears. It was obvious from Paul’s reaction that he didn’t want her to come to the farm, and yet it seemed just as obvious she couldn’t stay here for as long as it would take to rebuild the shop.